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"Information in this handout is not meant to discourage reptile ownership. With a few
exceptions (for example, infants or immunocompromised individuals), most people have
a low risk of acquiring salmonellosis from reptiles, but this risk can be reduced even
further by following simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets, but reptile
owners should be aware of the methods for reducing their risk of acquiring Salmonella
bacteria from their reptiles."
Salmonella Bacteria and Reptiles:
CLIENT EDUCATIONAL HANDOUT
Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and
intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in their feces. Salmonella bacteria
usually do not cause any illness in reptiles, but can cause serious illness in people.
Salmonella bacteria are easily spread from reptiles to humans. Humans may become
infected when they place their hands on objects, including food items, that have been in
contact with the stool of reptiles, in their mouths. For example, infants have become
infected after drinking from bottles of infant formula that became contaminated during
preparation. Individuals ho prepared the formula had not washed their hands after
touching a reptile or because reptiles were allowed to walk on kitchen counters. For
Salmonella bacteria to spread from reptiles to humans, the bacteria must be ingested.
Therefore, simply touching or holding a reptiles will not result in spread of bacteria
unless something contaminated with reptiles feces or the reptile itself is placed in the
mouth.
Most Salmonella infections in humans result in a mild, self-limiting illness characterized
by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. However, the infection can spread to the
bloodstream, bone marrow or nervous system, leading to severe, and sometimes fatal,
illness. Such severe infections are more likely to occurs in infants and in individuals
whose immune system is compromised (for instance, bone marrow transplant recipients,
persons with diabetes mellitus, persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus,
and chemotherapy patients).
Unfortunately, Salmonella bacteria cannot be eliminated from the intestinal tract of
reptiles. Administration of antibiotics to eliminate these bacteria has been unsuccessful
and may result in emergence of Salmonella bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
Attempt to raise or identify reptiles that do not carry Salmonella bacteria have also been
unsuccessful; therefore, bacterial culture of stool samples in an attempt to identify
reptiles that are not carrying Salmonella bacteria is not recommended. Fortunately the spread of Salmonella bacteria from reptiles to humans can be easily
prevented by using the following routine precautions:
• Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling reptiles, reptile
cages and equipment, and the stool of reptiles.
• Do not allow reptiles to have access to the kitchen, dining room, or any other area
in which food is prepared. Also, do not allow reptiles to have access to bathroom
sinks and tubs or to any area where infants are bathed. Consider keeping your
reptiles caged or limiting the parts of the house where reptiles are allowed to roam
free. Always wash your hands after coming into contact with any area where
reptiles are allowed to roam free.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling reptiles, reptiles cages, or reptile
equipment. Do not kiss reptiles or share food or drink with them.
• Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, bathroom sinks or bathtubs to bathe
reptiles or to wash reptile cages, dishes or aquariums. Reptile owners may wish to
purchase a plastic basin or tub in which to bathe or swim their reptiles. Waste
water and fecal material should be disposed of in the toilet instead of the bathtub
or household sink.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children less
than five years of age avoid contact with reptiles and that households with
children less than one year of age not own reptiles. The Association of Reptilian
and Amphibian Veterinarians encourages reptile owners with young children to
discuss steps to minimize risks associated with owning reptiles with their reptiles'
veterinarian and their physician. Children should be supervised when they are
handling reptiles to ensure that they do not place their hands or objects that a
reptile has contacted in their mouths. Reptiles should not be kept in child care
centers.
• Immunocompromised persons should avoid contact with reptiles.
• Follow instructions from your reptile's veterinarian concerning proper diet and
environment for your reptile. Healthy reptiles living in proper environments are
less likely to shed Salmonella bacteria.
Information in this handout is not meant to discourage reptile ownership. With a few
exceptions (for example, infants or immunocompromised individuals), most people have
a low risk of acquiring salmonellosis from reptiles, but this risk can be reduced even
further by following simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets, but reptile
owners should be aware of the methods for reducing their risk of acquiring Salmonella
bacteria from their reptiles.
This handout was developed by the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian
Veterinarians in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is
intended for informational purposes only; please seek advice from your physician and
your reptile's veterinarian if questions or problems occur.
http://www.arav.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Salmonella-Information-for-Reptile-Owners.pdf
exceptions (for example, infants or immunocompromised individuals), most people have
a low risk of acquiring salmonellosis from reptiles, but this risk can be reduced even
further by following simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets, but reptile
owners should be aware of the methods for reducing their risk of acquiring Salmonella
bacteria from their reptiles."
Salmonella Bacteria and Reptiles:
CLIENT EDUCATIONAL HANDOUT
Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and
intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in their feces. Salmonella bacteria
usually do not cause any illness in reptiles, but can cause serious illness in people.
Salmonella bacteria are easily spread from reptiles to humans. Humans may become
infected when they place their hands on objects, including food items, that have been in
contact with the stool of reptiles, in their mouths. For example, infants have become
infected after drinking from bottles of infant formula that became contaminated during
preparation. Individuals ho prepared the formula had not washed their hands after
touching a reptile or because reptiles were allowed to walk on kitchen counters. For
Salmonella bacteria to spread from reptiles to humans, the bacteria must be ingested.
Therefore, simply touching or holding a reptiles will not result in spread of bacteria
unless something contaminated with reptiles feces or the reptile itself is placed in the
mouth.
Most Salmonella infections in humans result in a mild, self-limiting illness characterized
by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. However, the infection can spread to the
bloodstream, bone marrow or nervous system, leading to severe, and sometimes fatal,
illness. Such severe infections are more likely to occurs in infants and in individuals
whose immune system is compromised (for instance, bone marrow transplant recipients,
persons with diabetes mellitus, persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus,
and chemotherapy patients).
Unfortunately, Salmonella bacteria cannot be eliminated from the intestinal tract of
reptiles. Administration of antibiotics to eliminate these bacteria has been unsuccessful
and may result in emergence of Salmonella bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
Attempt to raise or identify reptiles that do not carry Salmonella bacteria have also been
unsuccessful; therefore, bacterial culture of stool samples in an attempt to identify
reptiles that are not carrying Salmonella bacteria is not recommended. Fortunately the spread of Salmonella bacteria from reptiles to humans can be easily
prevented by using the following routine precautions:
• Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling reptiles, reptile
cages and equipment, and the stool of reptiles.
• Do not allow reptiles to have access to the kitchen, dining room, or any other area
in which food is prepared. Also, do not allow reptiles to have access to bathroom
sinks and tubs or to any area where infants are bathed. Consider keeping your
reptiles caged or limiting the parts of the house where reptiles are allowed to roam
free. Always wash your hands after coming into contact with any area where
reptiles are allowed to roam free.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling reptiles, reptiles cages, or reptile
equipment. Do not kiss reptiles or share food or drink with them.
• Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, bathroom sinks or bathtubs to bathe
reptiles or to wash reptile cages, dishes or aquariums. Reptile owners may wish to
purchase a plastic basin or tub in which to bathe or swim their reptiles. Waste
water and fecal material should be disposed of in the toilet instead of the bathtub
or household sink.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children less
than five years of age avoid contact with reptiles and that households with
children less than one year of age not own reptiles. The Association of Reptilian
and Amphibian Veterinarians encourages reptile owners with young children to
discuss steps to minimize risks associated with owning reptiles with their reptiles'
veterinarian and their physician. Children should be supervised when they are
handling reptiles to ensure that they do not place their hands or objects that a
reptile has contacted in their mouths. Reptiles should not be kept in child care
centers.
• Immunocompromised persons should avoid contact with reptiles.
• Follow instructions from your reptile's veterinarian concerning proper diet and
environment for your reptile. Healthy reptiles living in proper environments are
less likely to shed Salmonella bacteria.
Information in this handout is not meant to discourage reptile ownership. With a few
exceptions (for example, infants or immunocompromised individuals), most people have
a low risk of acquiring salmonellosis from reptiles, but this risk can be reduced even
further by following simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets, but reptile
owners should be aware of the methods for reducing their risk of acquiring Salmonella
bacteria from their reptiles.
This handout was developed by the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian
Veterinarians in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is
intended for informational purposes only; please seek advice from your physician and
your reptile's veterinarian if questions or problems occur.
http://www.arav.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Salmonella-Information-for-Reptile-Owners.pdf
